The Marine Building, completed in 1930, is one of Vancouver’s most important heritage buildings and one of the finest examples in North America of the art deco style. Its architects conceived it as a tower rising from the sea, clinging with sea flora and fauna; a building to house the city’s marine-oriented businesses and one which would help make Vancouver a major centre for shipping. A site on the waterfront at the foot of Burrard Street was chosen that would give tenants amazing views of the harbour and the North Shore mountains. For more than a decade, it was the tallest building in the British Empire.
Construction began in mid-1929 at 355 Burrard Street. Mid way through, the Wall Street crash occurred. Despite that, construction continued and when the Marine Building opened in October 1930, it was $1.1 million over the original budget of $1.2 million.
Local firm McCarter and Nairne designed the building, 25 storeys tall (97.6 metres or 321 feet) with amazing details. The 27-metre-long lobby is a focal point with a huge variety of sea creatures carved into the walls and brass doors. Even the clock’s numerals are represented by sea creatures. Transportation was an important theme as well, so carvings of zeppelins, aircraft, ships and trains were also produced as details on the building. The ceiling has decorative plasterwork that must be seen.
The elevators are worthy of mention. There are five high-speed units, which travel at 700 feet per minute (the standard at the time was 150 feet per minute), and the walls are inlaid with 12 varieties of British Columbia hardwood that form fantastic geometric patterns. In times past, five uniformed women stood beside the elevators, waiting to escort passengers aboard.
The exterior is equally impressive. Brick and terra cotta create contrast with the surrounding glass towers, and the theme of sea creatures and transportation is carried through, with etchings in many areas. The grand entrance features carvings and intricate ironwork, with stained glass overhead showing Captain Vancouver with his ship, the Discovery, on the horizon.
The building opened in 1930 and began operations in troubled times - for several years, only the first four floors had tenants and most people involved with the project suffered major financial losses. The building’s owner, Stimson and Co failed and the Marine Building was sold to the Guinness family (original owners of the Lions Gate Bridge) for $900,000 - a little more than a third of its cost. The architects of the building tenanted their creation for almost 50 years and moved to new offices - which have views of the Marine Building - in 1980.
From the mid-1980s on, nearly $20 million has been spent on improvements, including a complete restoration of the exterior brickwork and a new marble floor in the lobby. With the construction of new towers at the foot of Burrard, the Marine Building has lost its position of prominence on the waterfront. However, this magnificent art deco structure is still a cherished Vancouver landmark and its future is assured.
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